FAQ's
Dr Baer and Dr. Mirza are dedicated to providing you with a refreshing visit and with a result you'll be proud to share. Our staff is ready to answer your questions about scheduling, financial policy and insurance.
This section offers you information from the administrative side of the practice. Please click on a question below to expand the answer. If you do not see your question listed please do not hesitate to contact us!
Frequently Asked Questions:
Insurance- We are In Network Providers for Delta Dental Premier Plan, Cigna, DnOA ( includes some BlueCross/ Blue Shield), and Aetna
We will gladly file a claim with other PPO Dental insurances and Medicare. However, we cannot work with any HMO/DMO plans, State Issued Medical Cards, or Medicaid. You will be treated as a fee for service/ Cash paying customer.
Insurance- We are In Network Providers for Delta Dental Premier Plan, Cigna, DnOA ( includes some BlueCross/ Blue Shield), and Aetna
We will gladly file a claim with other PPO Dental insurances and Medicare. However, we cannot work with any HMO/DMO plans, State Issued Medical Cards, or Medicaid. You will be treated as a fee for service/ Cash paying customer.
Eventually, yes -- nothing lasts forever, including amalgam and non-amalgam fillings. At each re-care examination we will look at the current health of your dental fillings. We will look for signs of wear, stress, or leakage from each dental filling.
If needed, small fillings can be replaced with another filling while larger fillings have areas of less natural tooth structure remaining; therefore have an increased risk that your tooth could fracture or even break entirely away. We will carefully assess the health of your dental fillings, possibly recommending a stronger restorative dental solution for your tooth/teeth, such as crown or onlay to replace missing tooth structure and strengthen your tooth.
If needed, small fillings can be replaced with another filling while larger fillings have areas of less natural tooth structure remaining; therefore have an increased risk that your tooth could fracture or even break entirely away. We will carefully assess the health of your dental fillings, possibly recommending a stronger restorative dental solution for your tooth/teeth, such as crown or onlay to replace missing tooth structure and strengthen your tooth.
Cracked teeth show a variety of symptoms, including erratic pain when chewing, possibly with release of biting pressure, or pain when your tooth is exposed to temperature extremes. In many cases, the pain may come and go, and your dentist may have difficulty locating which tooth is causing the discomfort.
Cracks typically extend from the chewing surfaces of the tooth vertically towards the root. A cracked tooth can be, but is not always completely separated into two distinct segments. Because of the position of the crack, damage to the pulp is common.
If there is need to treat injured pulp, Root canal treatment is frequently needed. Your dentist will then restore your tooth with a crown to hold the pieces together and protect the cracked tooth. At times, the crack may extend below the gingival tissue (gum) line, possibly requiring tooth extraction.
Cracks typically extend from the chewing surfaces of the tooth vertically towards the root. A cracked tooth can be, but is not always completely separated into two distinct segments. Because of the position of the crack, damage to the pulp is common.
If there is need to treat injured pulp, Root canal treatment is frequently needed. Your dentist will then restore your tooth with a crown to hold the pieces together and protect the cracked tooth. At times, the crack may extend below the gingival tissue (gum) line, possibly requiring tooth extraction.
Gum disease is a general term to describe that there is an ongoing infection in the supporting tissue of the teeth. It is important to understand that brushing and flossing daily is a great step to helping to fight this disease and we are getting very close to making the strides to reduce the number of teeth lost due to bone loss, but there is no cure currently.
At your initial evaluation we record the severity of the infection and recommend non-surgical gum therapy called scaling and root planing to remove the infection from under your gums. Afterwards we must carefully and closely monitor your mouth to prevent a recurrence of this destructive infection.
In as little as 90 days bacteria can be back up to levels which enable it to destroy bone which is why visits every 6 months just aren't enough. We recommend intervals of cleaning at least every 3-4 months depending on severity of the gum disease and your home-care regime.
In recent years gum health has been a direct relation to your overall health, especially those with family histories of HBP, Cholesterol, Stroke and Diabetes. Knowing that we ask you to ask yourself, if you have gingivitis, what else could be going on? We can help you understand, identify and remedy the underlying issues that may be going on and get control back over your oral and overall state of health.
At your initial evaluation we record the severity of the infection and recommend non-surgical gum therapy called scaling and root planing to remove the infection from under your gums. Afterwards we must carefully and closely monitor your mouth to prevent a recurrence of this destructive infection.
In as little as 90 days bacteria can be back up to levels which enable it to destroy bone which is why visits every 6 months just aren't enough. We recommend intervals of cleaning at least every 3-4 months depending on severity of the gum disease and your home-care regime.
In recent years gum health has been a direct relation to your overall health, especially those with family histories of HBP, Cholesterol, Stroke and Diabetes. Knowing that we ask you to ask yourself, if you have gingivitis, what else could be going on? We can help you understand, identify and remedy the underlying issues that may be going on and get control back over your oral and overall state of health.
Nothing.... both are terms used interchangeably to describe a permanent restoration on a tooth that covers 360' and is made in a laboratory. These restorations are needed when either a tooth has been fractured or been extensively decayed. The crown restores your tooth to normal appearance and function.
Everything wears out and the same goes for fillings and crowns. Over time the natural gum line changes and can recede away leaving the collar of the crown ( the area where the crown meets the natural tooth) exposed or uncovered.
When this happens our dietary saliva can become very acidic and start to erode the natural tooth structure away leaving a small space under the crown. This small space provides the perfect environment for sticky plaque and bacteria to accumulate and create decay.
It is not recommended to place a filling along the neck of the crown as there is no way to guarantee that all the decay has been removed, or that the underside has no moisture contamination which develops the possiblity that this pattern of this decay will come back.
When this happens our dietary saliva can become very acidic and start to erode the natural tooth structure away leaving a small space under the crown. This small space provides the perfect environment for sticky plaque and bacteria to accumulate and create decay.
It is not recommended to place a filling along the neck of the crown as there is no way to guarantee that all the decay has been removed, or that the underside has no moisture contamination which develops the possiblity that this pattern of this decay will come back.
There are many reasons in which an implant may fail to take hold and a few of the reasons are within your control. Please see below for the top five reasons an implant might fail and to learn more about what you can do to keep it from happening.
This is an important step because improperly placed dental implants will not provide the necessary support and could lead to trauma of the implant and bone, resulting in failure of the entire prosthetic work.
Smoking
Cigarettes contain toxic chemicals that are known to slow or retard healing which is why it is so important to refrain from smoking during the process of osseointegration. To provide your dental implant with the best chance of osseointegration you will want to keep away from cigarette smoking to allow the tissue around your implant to heal successfully.Poor Oral Hygiene
Patients with dental implants are reminded to maintain good oral hygiene because cleanliness preserves the health of the oral cavity, providing the best environment for healing.Poor Bone Quality
Your dentist will assess the bone quality to ensure that it is sufficient for osseointegration to take place. In the event that the bone quality is insufficient, osseointegration may never be achieved and the implants will become loose.Uneven load distribution
Your dentist will need to assess the design of your crown, removable dentures or bridgework to ensure that it is properly placed to provide the best load distribution.This is an important step because improperly placed dental implants will not provide the necessary support and could lead to trauma of the implant and bone, resulting in failure of the entire prosthetic work.
Bruxism or Night-grinding
Bruxism is a paroxysmal behaviour that is usually observed during sleep which can be extremely destrtructive if it occures at high intensity. Your dentist will need to evaluate your bruxism to ensure that dental implants will not be affected.Your initial visit will consist of a consultation explaining your diagnosis and treatment options. Occasionally, treatment can be done the same day. However, if you have a complex medical history or the extent of your treatment is more involved additional appointments will be scheduled at your convenience.
If your dentist or physician has taken x-rays recently (within 6 months for Bitewings and within a year for Pan/ Full Mouth x-rays) you may request that those x-rays be forwarded to our office, or bring them with you at the time of your appointment.
Please alert our office if you have any medical conditions (ie: High Blood Pressure, Allergies, Replacement Valves/ Joints, Diabetes) or medications (ie: aspirin, anticoagulants, heart medications) which may affect or interfere with treatment at the time of your visit.
Please call us at 815-964-8713 to schedule an appointment. We will schedule your appointment as promptly as possible.
If you have pain or an emergency situation, every attempt will be made to see you that day. We try our best to stay on schedule to minimize your waiting time. Due to the fact that we provide many types of dental services, various circumstances may lengthen the time allocated for a procedure.
Emergency cases can also arise and cause delays. We appreciate your understanding and patience.
For your convenience Rockford Family Dental accepts Visa, MasterCard and Discover. We deliver quality care at the most reasonable cost to our patients and ask that payment is provided at the time of service unless other arrangements have been made in advance.
If you have questions regarding your payment schedule or your account, please do not hesitate to contact us prior to your appointment so that we may confirm with you. Many times a quick phone call can help answer questions or clear up any misunderstandings.
Please remember you are fully responsible for all fees charged regardless of your insurance coverage. We will send you a monthly statement. Most insurance companies will respond within 4-6 weeks. Any remaining balance after your insurance has paid is your responsibility and your prompt payment is appreciated. We thank you for helping us to keep costs as low as we possibly can.
If you have questions regarding your payment schedule or your account, please do not hesitate to contact us prior to your appointment so that we may confirm with you. Many times a quick phone call can help answer questions or clear up any misunderstandings.
Please remember you are fully responsible for all fees charged regardless of your insurance coverage. We will send you a monthly statement. Most insurance companies will respond within 4-6 weeks. Any remaining balance after your insurance has paid is your responsibility and your prompt payment is appreciated. We thank you for helping us to keep costs as low as we possibly can.
We will make every effort to provide you with the finest care and the most convenient financial options. We will work with you in maximizing your insurance reimbursement for covered procedures. Please bring your insurance information with you to the initial visit so that we can expedite reimbursement. Please call if you have any questions or concerns regarding your initial visit.
Also, we are a preferred provider for Delta Dental in Rockford, IL.
Also, we are a preferred provider for Delta Dental in Rockford, IL.
Rigorous guidelines help protect both you the patient and the dental staff. The cornerstone in a good and safe dental practice is the element of trust.
We sterilize all reusable equipment including dental handpieces. Other ways we help protect you is using disinfectant hand soap, gloves and face masks, chemical disinfection of countertops and surfaces, disposable barriers/ materials, and Autoclave sterilization (device that kills bacteria and viruses by steam, heat and pressure) of all equipment before every use.
Our staff takes pride in the quality of care we deliver to you. From time to time we will have reduced hours so that we can provide the opportunity for staff to attend continuing education classes on the latest in technology or trends in dentistry.
After each dental procedure we will go over the specific instructions as to home care, dietary considerations, expectations, and any limitations. Should you have any concerns feel free to contact us.
